US natural soda ash production rises 1% in 2011

25 January 2012 16:48  [Source: ICIS news]

BOGOTA (ICIS)--US production of natural soda ash in 2011 increased by 1% year over year, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported on Wednesday.

US production of soda ash rose from 10.6m tonnes in 2010 to 10.7m tonnes in 2011, the survey said.

The total value of domestic soda ash produced in 2011 was estimated to be about $1.3bn (€1.0bn).

The US soda ash industry comprised five producers that have a combined nameplate capacity of 14.5m tonnes/year, according to the USGS.

Based on final 2010 reported data, the estimated 2011 distribution of soda ash by end use was glass at 48%; chemicals at 29%; soap and detergents at 10%; distributors at 5%; flue gas desulfurization at 4%; miscellaneous uses and pulp and paper at 2% each and water treatment at less than 1%.

Natural soda ash is the trade name for sodium carbonate, a chemical refined from the mineral trona or sodium-carbonate-bearing brines.

Soda ash is primarily used in glassmaking, manufacturing other inorganic chemicals, detergents, flue gas desulfurisation, water treatment and in pulp and paper manufacturing.

US producers include Solvay, OCI Chemical, FMC and General Chemical Industrial Products.

($1 = €0.77)

By: Leela Landress
+1 713 525 2653

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